The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World

Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.

Our Island Story (Complete)

H. E. Marshall's classic children's chronicle of Britain, Our Island Story, includes all the best-loved (and most infamous!) stories from history: King Alfred and the cakes, King John and the Magna Carta, Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, Queen Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada, and many others. This recording contains the complete and unabridged text, released previously in separate volumes. It is read with aplomb by Anna Bentinck and Daniel Philpott.

The History Keepers: The Storm Begins

The swashbuckling first book in an explosive new series. Imagine if you lost your parents - not just in place, but in time. Jake Djones' mum and dad have gone missing and they could be anywhere in the world - at any time in history. Because the Djones family have an astonishing secret, which for years they've managed to keep - even from each other. They belong to the History Keepers: a secret society which travels through the centuries to prevent evil enemies from meddling with history itself.

Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt

In this updated version of the classic of popular Egyptology, Barbara Mertz combines her doctorate in Egyptology at the famed Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago with a life-long enthusiasm for ancient Egypt. Her love of the subject is contagious and makes her the perfect guide to ancient Egypt for the student, the layman, and those who plan to visit or have visited the Nile Valley.

Jules says:"a bit too dramatic for my liking"

Audible Editor Reviews

Nicholas Boulton's smooth tone is well suited for this overview of the ancient civilization that developed around the Nile. His slow delivery and excellent enunciation provide listeners with ample time to comprehend the information provided and make complicated information accessible. Everything from the reign of various pharaohs and the building of the Sphinx to the mythical stories of gods and goddesses and the deciphering of hieroglyphics is covered. The use of music to separate sections adds to the mood. The production ends somewhat abruptly after brief coverage of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in the twentieth century.

Publisher's Summary

Ancient Egypt: The Glory of the Pharaohs tells us about civilization under the pharaohs, of mysterious statues and tombs, incredible obelisks, and the Sphinx. In this selection, the ancient Egyptian kingdom is brought to life in a way that fuels the listener's imagination, teaching and entertaining in equal measure.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

A brief and enjoyable introduction to the history of Ancient Egypt. Well-written and well-read, it touches upon all the topics that will interest an average reader: the pharaohs, mythology, mummification, the pyramids, hieroglyphics. It also provides an easily understood historical overview, tracing the arc of this great civilization from beginning to end.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

carl801

Madison, Alabama United States

05/05/12

Overall

Performance

Story

"What did I expect for a 2 hour audiobook?"

I am not sure what this audiobook was trying to be. The reader is excellent, but this is not a history of ancient Egypt, certainly. While there is an excellent narrative of Egyptian mythology, the rest of the book seems to be aimed at an audience of third graders. I should have known, since it's only 2 hours and 25 minutes long. You can't even scratch the surface of 3000 years of Egypt and the Pharaohs in that amount of time. And that's what this audiobook does: it fails to scratch the surface.

If you want a real history of ancient Egypt in audio form, seek out Professor Bob Brier's efforts for the Teaching Company.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Woody Academy

Lake Dallas, TX United States

25/05/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Half Mythology, Half History"

What made the experience of listening to Ancient Egypt the most enjoyable?

If you're looking for a simple overview of Egyptian history, you should know that the first hour of the book is spent retelling myths about the gods: Rah, Isis, Osiris, Horus, Anubis, Seth, etc. These myths are certainly pertinent to the history and culture of Egypt -- and really interesting to hear -- but it's not what I expected. However, after about an hour, the book turns to history in terms of actual people. My homeschooled children, ages six, seven and eight, enjoyed listening to the two-hour-plus audiobook. At about an hour in, I asked if they wanted to finish the rest later or switch to music, and they all said they'd rather keep listening. It's not a little kids' book, though, and it will take a few listenings for my kids to absorb the bulk of the information. That's a good thing. As an adult, I found the level of detail to be just right for the novice. I can remember the dynasties and tell them apart, I know which came first and which Egyptian god had the head of a jackal (Anubis). For cultural literacy, it's a great place to start. You'll hold your own during conversations at cocktail parties and gallery openings, and you'll be able to answer questions from kids. It takes a historian with a strong grasp of his subject to create a book that tells the tale simply and memorably. If you want to drill down for more information -- on Seit I or Hatshepsut, for example -- there are other books containing more detail on various pharaohs and dynasties. But if you don't know where to start, start here. The mythology/history approach opens the door to learning about mythology in other ancient cultures, and how a culture's myths and objects of worship impact their worldview, government, values and traditions.

What about Nicholas Boulton’s performance did you like?

The narrator has a clear voice and speaks slowly enough for the listener to take in what he is saying. His volume is consistent. A good choice for this book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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